The Adrift Lab team (Alix, Alex, and Jenn) were back on Lord Howe for another season of catching adult shearwaters that were banded in previous seasons. October marks year 14 of this particular project, and it’s a big one because the team feel we finally have enough data to move onto the write-up stage. Why did we need to wait this long? Well, after leaving LHI as a chick, the shearwaters don’t return to the Island to breed for the first time until they’re 4-5 years old. So, we needed to band a lot of birds, and then be patient. Very, very patient. We don’t have any results to share with you yet, as the analysis is ongoing, but 2025 should be a big year for discovery and reporting back to the community.
In the meantime, we wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in this project over the past 14 years. It’s not an understatement to say we could not have completed this project without scores of generous, passionate and dedicated volunteers who joined us under the cover of darkness – rain or shine – to catch birds, get bitten, and pooped on. Rarely did anyone complain. Mostly we laughed and shared stories, took photos of each other’s “war wounds” (whoever got the worst bite won the admiration of everyone else), and helped build an even stronger sense of community here on the Island. We’re proud to have been part of this and humbled by the kindness shown.
At Adrift Lab we have a motto that binds our team together, even in the hardest times: good science is good people. You can’t have one without the other. Thank you for being the very best and making us shine in the process.
Look forward to seeing you all again in April.